12. New York City is called “the Big Apple” because it controls the world.

Now, “historians” will tell you that the nickname was popularised by 1930s jazzman Fletcher Henderson in reference to the boundless excitement and opportunity, both artistic and financial, evoked by the city.

But we know better: New York is the beating heart of worldwide media and finance. New York is the biggest apple around. Therefore, apples control media and finance.